Multiple push button switch



July 5, 1966 w HQLZER 3,259,700

MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed June 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 Fig.1..

39 33 INVENTOR WALTEI? HOLZER BYWA/W ATTORNEY5 July 5, 1966 w. HOLZER 3,259,700

MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed June 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR WALTER HOLZER MAM A TTORNEY5 United States Patent MULTHPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Walter Holzer, Drosteweg 19, Meersburg (Bodensee), Germany Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 288,214 Claims priority, application Germany, June 27, 1962, H 46,193 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-) The invention relates to a key switch comprising a plurality of aligned keys, 'for example for the pre-selection and control of specific programmes and/or parts of the programmes of programme switching mechanisms for controlling machines and equipment.

The invention aims to design the key switch so that it is possible to operate the programmes and/or parts of programmes of programme switching mechanisms by actuating keys.

It must also be possible to construct the key switch with the smallest possible external dimensions. Expenditure on adjustment and wiring must be small, and the key switch should be organically connected to the switching members operated thereby.

.Key switches, which actuate stacked bundles directly or indirectly through rod systems, :are known.

The contacts have to be connected so that one contact can be operated from a plurality of keys, and on the other hand one key must operate a plurality of contacts even if they are far apart. With such switches there must be a large outlay on adjustment and wiring and on the necessary mechanical rod system for operating distant contacts, which makes the whole arrangement very bulky and expensive.

Key switches are known where the rod systems are formed by transverse slides, the contacts being at the ends of the slides. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the contacts, if there are many of them, are mounted in different planes at the ends of the slides. The Wiring then required between the contacts is so expensive that it is impossible to make a key unit of this type economically. It should be noted that shaking is inevitable in the very applications suitable for such programme switching mechanisms, for example in Washing machines or other tool machines, so that operating safety is much reduced due to the many contacts and actuating members.

The invention aims to avoid these disadvantages and to design the key switch so that many contacts can be operated by one key and many keys can operate one contact, but so that no wiring is necessary, the key switch has only a very small overall height and can be organically connected to the adjacent structural members.

According to the invention, the slides, which are movable transversely to the direction in which the keys are actuated and which are moved by one or more keys, operate contacts on a printed circuit.

According to this feature of the invention known transverse slides are used to form, in combination with a known printed circuit, a key switch enabling all the contacts to be mounted in one plane, so that in spite of the small height programme or parts of programmes can be carried out or preselected without expensive wiring.

-It is desirable for the slides to be designed with extensions or the like for mechanically operating switching or control members.

The transverse slides which already operate the contacts may also carry out blocking or locking processes or possibly even operate quick-break or tumbler switches, for example in the adjoining components. Lamps may be covered or exposed by them in order to indicate a switching state. The slides may also be coloured, so that a switching state is indicated by the position of the slides and the presence of specific colours.

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It is also possible for the contacts to be on printed circuits on both sides of the slides.

This provides a much larger number of combinations for operating contacts by keys.

The transverse slides may also be designed to carry contacts them-selves or to have contacts printed on them.

Conversely it is also possible to provide both contacts on the printed circuit and other, for example cam, con tacts.

If normal contacts are also to be used, even if only to a small extent, then it is desirable for the contacts of slightly-loaded control circuits on printed circuits to be combined and for additional power contacts to be mounted separately, for example as riveted contacts.

Thus all possible combinations can be used both for printing contacts on the transverse slides and/or on the printed circuit, for mounting contacts in the conventional way and also for providing, for example, projection-s, lugs and the like for mechanically operating any switching means.

It is important for the printed circuit to project beyond the key switches on one or more sides and actually to be constructed as a component, the necessary connections being printed on the printed circuit.

The printed circuit, which is on an insulated support, is accordingly used so that the insulating support extends into the adjacent components connected to the circuit, thus dispensing with wiring. The transverse slides may also extend into these components in order to carry out any kinematic intervention therein.

If the switch is used for fully automatic washing machines it is also possible for other switching and control members, such as thermostats, level switches and the like, to be included in the printed circuit. It is equally possible for the electrical connections to other switching and control members -to be incorporated in the printed circuit.

The whole ararngement can be used like a building game, with the printed circuit composed of members which are aligned by releasable connections, for example plug connections.

The construction of the switch can be simplified if the printed circuit is secured by resiliently mounted, preferably insulating holding-down devices.

These devices may extend into the contact tracks or into the printed connected tracks without causing any disturbance.

The printed circuit is protected from mechanical damage and insulated, through the insulating hold-down devices passing through a housing frame mounted between the printed circuit and an opposed plate.

The hold-down devices are desirably designed as strips of insulating material having a widened portion or head on one side and a slot for the insertion of a resilient locking clip on the other.

A very complex switching member can be assembled merely as follows: a housing frame is provided and one cover plate, inwardly directed, carries the .printed circuit and has slots through 'Which the hold-dolwn members are passed, while the other plate is used for shielding, although it may also have a printed circuit and, if so, slots, the hold-down members only being passed through and their widened portions ensuring that the whole printed circuit lies level on the housing frame or on a base. This embodiment would also be suitable if other printed circuits facing one another were present in the housing frame, so that the transverse slides and the appropriate contacts or cams would be movable in the gap provided.

In one embodiment the transverse slides are designed with cams, recessed portions which are sensed by resilient lugs having contacts opposite the contacts fixed on a plate.

parallel.

Due to the transverse slides contacts are thus raised directly or by means of a resilient lug or are lowered until they are applied and contact made. In this way contact is made or the contact is opened.

It is also possible for the opposed contacts to be printed on with their terminals and other connections.

Kinematic reversal is possible if the printed circuit is movable, for example if it is in the form of a transverse slide.

With this embodiment the whole printed circuit can be moved, for example by tranverse slides, to make way for quite a different programme.

Examples of the invention are given in the drawings which, together with the related description, contain further features. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic .front elevation of a transverse slide with a contact on a printed circuit, the opposed contact and a connecting member, and without the tension spring used for fastening,

FIG. 2 is a different, diagrammatic view of a key with a transverse slide.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a connecting member or hold-down device with a tension spring,

FIG. 4 is a perspective front elevation of a key switch forming a unit with adjacent switching members, and

FIG. 5 shows the same from below.

FIG. 1 shows a transverse slide 1 which, as can be seen from FIG. 2, is in the form of a narrow strip. The slide has openings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. FIG. 2 shows only the opening 2. The bars 7 of keys 8 engage through these openings in known manner. For reasons of clarity no keys are shown in FIG. 1 and only one key 8 with the bar 7 in FIG. 2. In the example the bar 7 has a projection 9. When the key 8 is moved against a spring (not shown) in thedirection of the arrow 10, the projection 9 moves the transverse slide 1 to the right in the direction of the arrow 11. The opening 2 must be large enough to permit the movement of the transverse slide 1 in the direction of the arrow 11.

Recessed portions 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 are, for example, provided on the transverse slide 1. It should be noted that the recessed portions can be spaced as desired and arranged quite differently for the different slides. As indicated in FIG. 2, the slides 1 are in known manner In FIG. 2 only portions 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 of slides are shown, all being similar to the transverse slide 1. In the same way many keys are juxtaposed on bars and projections and are indicated only by keys 22, 23, 24 and 25.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that, given this embodiment of the resilient lug 26 and opposed contact 27, the slide 1 when moved in the direct-ion of the arrow -11 will allow the resilient lug with the upper contact to move in the direction of the arrow 28 when it engages in the lowered portion .15. This closes the contact 30 on the printed circuit 29. If the slide 1 is moved in the opposite direction, then the lug 26 slides out of the recessed portion 15 and the opposed contact is lifted off the contact 30.

It will be realised from this construction that all of the contacts 27, 30 are in one plane. It is desirable to fasten the printed circuit by providing a connecting member or hold-down device 31, having a widened portion 32 or head at the side of the printed circuit and a slot 33 at the other side. Plates 35, 36 lying on a housing frame 34 then have slots 33, 38 through which the holddown device passes. The widened portion 32 presses the printed circuit 29 level against the plate 35. A locking clip 39 ensures that a fastening pressure is constantly exerted on the printed circuit.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 likenumerals denote like members. The slides are guided in recesses 40 in a suitable plate. The printed circuit has openings 41 through the lugs 26 and opposed contacts 27 extend. It will be seen that a plurailty of such contact springs 43 are attached to a printed connecting track 42, for example. The contact springs carry the lugs 26 and opposed contacts 27 at their ends. It will be appreciated that the plate 44 carrying the printed circuit 29 is designed for mechanical connection to the timer 46, for example by means of recesses 45. The connecting tracks 47 lead into the timer, so that a level or diaphragm switch 48 can be mounted in one plane even adjoining them. Plate 35 in FIG. 1 corresponds to plate 44 in FIG. 4 in its operation in respect of the hold-down devices 31. Widened portions or heads 32 of the hold-down devices 31 would accordingly project from the plate 44 at chosen places, and the other ends of the devices would project from the plate 36 (FIG. 5). The tension springs or looking clips 39 which engage through the slots 33 in the hold-down devices 31 can be seen from FIG. 5.

The invention can be applied to all cases where complex control means fitted with key switches would in fact need bundle switches due to the copious wiring, and require the members to be connected to be attached to the key switch while yet taking up little space, particularly in height.

I claim:

1. In a multiple key program switch mechanism; a casing, a plurality of key operated plungers arranged in coplanar parallel relation in said casing and moveable therein in the direction of their lengths, flat printed circuit plate means mounted on said casing and disposed parallel to the plane of said plungers, paired fixed and moveable contacts on said plate means, the moveable contacts being moveable in a direction perpendicular to said plate means to open and close said paired contacts, said paired contacts being arranged on said plate means at different spaced regions thereon, said regions being spaced in the direction of the length of said plungers and extending in a direction at right angles to the length of said plungers, an elongated slide in said casing adjacent and parallel to each said region and in the plane of said plungers, apertures in said slides through which said plungers extend, each aperture having a dimension in the direction of the length of the slide greater than the dimensions in the same direction of the plunger extending therethroug h, cams on said plungers operable upon movement of the key operated plungers to engage said slides and move the slides in the direction of the length thereof, finger means on said movea-ble contacts engaging the sides of said slides adjacent said regions, and cam means on said sides of said slides operable upon movement of the slides by said plungers to act on said fingers to actuate said paired contacts between open and closed positions.

2. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which said slides are flat bars in superposed parallel relation and each having its greatest lateral dimension in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said plungers.

3. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which at least some of said paired contacts are on the side of said plate means which faces away from said plungers and said plate means having apertures through which said fingers extend into engagement with the sides of said slides.

4. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which said casing includes spaced side plates between which said slides are disposed and said side plates having grooves therein slidably receiving said slides.

5. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which said casing includes spaced side plates between which said slides are disposed and said side plates having grooves therein slidably receiving said slides, said printed circuit plate means including a printed plate mounted on each said side plate. 7

'6. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which includes headed rods extending laterally through said plate means and casing, and spring clips on the rods at 5 6 the ends thereof opposite the head ends to hold the plate 2,964,986 12/ 1960 Johnson 200-5 X means on the casing. 3,165,598 1/ 1965 lMoLure 200-5 7. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which 3,166,644 1/ 9 5 Fe-l'drnayer 2005 additional control switch means are provided spaced from FOREIGN PATENTS sal-d Iplungers and into which adidtional switch means 5 870,028 6/1961 Great Britain. sa1d -pr1nted c1r cu1t plate means extend.

OTHER REFERENCES References Cited by the Examiner German application 1,120,547, 112/1961.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 KATHLEEN H. cLATPY, P i E 1,488,512 4/1924 Outrey -2006-1.14 X r r xamme' 2,652,470 9/1953 Ba-tcheller 200 5 X ROBERT SCHAEFER, Examme 2,932,816 4/ 1960 Stiefel 200-5 M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTIPLE KEY PROGRAM SWITCH MECHANISM; A CASING, A PLURALITY OF KEY OPERATED PLUNGERS ARRANGED IN COPLANAR PARALLEL RELATION IN SAID CASING AND MOVEABLE THEREIN IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LENGTHS, FLAT PRINTED CIRCUIT PLATE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CASING AND DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID PLUNGERS, PAIRED FIXED AND MOVEABLE CONTACTS ON SAID PLATE MEANS, THE MOVEABLE CONTACTS BEING MOVEABLE IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLATE MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID PAIRED CONTACTS SAID PAIRED MEANS TO OPNE AND CLOSE SAID PAIRED MEANS AT DIFFERENT SPACED REGIONS THEREON, SAID REGIONS BEING SPACED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID PLUNGERS AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LENGTH OF SAID PLUNGERS, AND ELONGATED SLIDE IN SAID CASING ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO EACH SAID REGION AND IN THE PLANE OF SAID PLUNGERS, APERTURES IN SAID SLIDES THROUGH WHICH SAID PLUNGERS EXTEND, EACH APERTURE HAVING A DIMENSION IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE SLIDE GREATER THAN THE DIMENSIONS IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF THE PLUNGER EXTENDING THE THERETHROUGH, CAMS ON SAID PLUNGERS OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF THE KEY OPERATED PLUNGERS TO ENGAGE SAID SLIDES AND MOVE THE SLIDES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, FINGER MEANS ON SAID MOVEABLE CONTACTS ENGAGING THE SIDES OF SAID SLIDES ADJACENT SAID REGION, AND CAM MEANS ON SAID SLIDES OF SAID SLIDES OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDES BY SAID PLUNGERS TO ACT ON SAID FINGERS TO ACTUATE SAID PAIRED CONTACTS BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS. 